I am fortunate enough to have a huge support system in my life. I have tons of emotional support from my husband, mom, family members, and close friends. They listen to my problems, offer me advice, help me rationalize situations, and are just overall there for me when I need them.
I have professional support from my immediate supervisor/close friend and other Goddard directors in the area. My supervisor encourages me when I need it and offers advice/suggestions to help me succeed. She listens when I have issues and is someone that I can easily relate to. Other Goddard directors in the area share great ideas and suggestions to problems via a discussion board that we regularly post to.
Physical support come from my husband who does so many things for me. He moves heavy boxes, reaches things that I can not reach, helps with the house cleaning, does grocery shopping, and picks up wherever I left off. He's awesome.
I get practical support from more things than I realize. I rely on my iPhone to wake me up in the morning and remind me of upcoming events. It also allows me to check my email as often as I need to. My iPad lets me quickly access event ideas for work or recipe ideas for dinner from Pinterest. I use my laptop to complete all of my school work mainly. And I could not get around the big city of Raleigh without GPS.
Taking all of these supports into account, I think that it would be very difficult to live without them. I would feel depressed without my emotional supports and alone without my professional supports. Not having physical support would leave me feeling overwhelmed while not having practical support would honestly leave me feeling lost. I am so incredibly lucky to have the amazing support system that I have and rely on them all so much.
The challenge that I imagined involved myself having major surgery. This surgery would leave me out of work for at least 2 weeks (with no pay) and I would be on bed rest. I would rely on my emotional supports to keep me sane. I would need someone to talk to and keep me in the loop of what was going on in the family and with friends. I would also want to know from professional support what was going on at work as I rarely miss work and it's a huge part of who I am. I would definitely rely on the physical support of my husband, more heavily than before as I would not be able to leave my home. My practical support would be used to entertain me as I was on bed rest. And because I wouldn't be receiving pay, I would rely on someone in my emotional support group to temporarily help me out if need be. Without these supports I'm not sure how I would function. I could make it without the professional support in this situation. But how on earth would I manage without physical support? I'm not sure that I would be able to. All of my different supports are important to me but I think that they physical support and emotional supports would be the most beneficial in this situation. Without them I am not sure how I would survive this type of situation.
Reflecting on my support system has opened my eyes to how incredibly lucky I am to have the people that I have in my life. I am supported by so many people in so many ways and I am so thankful for that.
9.29.2013
9.28.2013
My Connections to Play
"Life is more fun if you play games."
- Roald Dahl
"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning."
- Diane Ackerman
Toys that I loved as a child:
All I remember from my childhood is playing. Playing outside as much as I could. My Grandma played a huge part in my childhood and she encouraged play often. We used to play in the creek and catch salamanders. We would feel them and talk about what color they were. She would explain what they eat and how they have babies. I learned so much by playing with her. When it was rainy outside we would play inside. We would build a fort in the living room and I would take all of the babies to their "new house." She would encourage me to do all types of things such as cooking and cleaning. She even taught me how to sew at an early age. My mother encouraged outside play. She was always telling me to go outside and play with the neighborhood kids. We would ride our bikes, hula hoop, bounce around in moon shoes, and climb trees. I remember us pretending to be all kinds of people. Princesses, Power Rangers, characters from Captain Planet...we had so much fun!
I think play is very much different today than it was when I was growing up. Kids don't roam the neighborhood like I used to because in many places it just isn't safe enough to do that. Outdoor play seems to happen less as more children would rather play video games or computer games.
I think that play made my childhood awesome and I plan to make sure that my children experience the same joy. I also think that my childhood made me the person that I am today. In many ways, I am fearless, which I contribute to all of the trees that I used to climb and giant hills that I used to roller blade down. I am also playful. I love to go skiing and snow tubing. I still love to ride bikes and do so often with my husband. I also enjoy things like amusement parks and state fairs, all of which make me think of my childhood, and how excited I used to get about these things. I feel that having a play filled childhood has contributed to my having a fun, adventurous adulthood full of not just work but...play!
- Roald Dahl
"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning."
- Diane Ackerman
Toys that I loved as a child:
All I remember from my childhood is playing. Playing outside as much as I could. My Grandma played a huge part in my childhood and she encouraged play often. We used to play in the creek and catch salamanders. We would feel them and talk about what color they were. She would explain what they eat and how they have babies. I learned so much by playing with her. When it was rainy outside we would play inside. We would build a fort in the living room and I would take all of the babies to their "new house." She would encourage me to do all types of things such as cooking and cleaning. She even taught me how to sew at an early age. My mother encouraged outside play. She was always telling me to go outside and play with the neighborhood kids. We would ride our bikes, hula hoop, bounce around in moon shoes, and climb trees. I remember us pretending to be all kinds of people. Princesses, Power Rangers, characters from Captain Planet...we had so much fun!
I think play is very much different today than it was when I was growing up. Kids don't roam the neighborhood like I used to because in many places it just isn't safe enough to do that. Outdoor play seems to happen less as more children would rather play video games or computer games.
I think that play made my childhood awesome and I plan to make sure that my children experience the same joy. I also think that my childhood made me the person that I am today. In many ways, I am fearless, which I contribute to all of the trees that I used to climb and giant hills that I used to roller blade down. I am also playful. I love to go skiing and snow tubing. I still love to ride bikes and do so often with my husband. I also enjoy things like amusement parks and state fairs, all of which make me think of my childhood, and how excited I used to get about these things. I feel that having a play filled childhood has contributed to my having a fun, adventurous adulthood full of not just work but...play!
9.14.2013
Relationship Reflection
There are many types of relationships that I have come across during my life, all of which I feel are important to who I am today.
My husband, Mikey as I call him, is the most important relationship that I have. He is my number one fan and biggest supporter. He is my partner in crime and the best friend that I have found. In order to maintain our relationship we have found communication and honesty to be the most important factors. I consider my relationship with my husband to also be a partnership because we must live together and make decisions together. In order to do this effectively, we have to be partners and agree on things.
My mother, Traci, is another very important relationship for me. She is always supportive of me but is also my voice of reason. She gives me advice when I need it and helps me to see farther down the road when I can't. Maintaining a relationship with my mother has not been a challenge for me at all, as I am lucky to only live 2 hours away from her. We talk on the phone often and we visit each other about once a month.
My grandmother, Joyce, is also an important relationship in my life. She helped raise me as a child and has never missed a game, band concert, etc. She listens to my rants, offers words of wisdom, and tells me outright when I am being ridiculous about something. She doesn't sugarcoat anything for me, she just tells me like it is and I love that about her. I live 2 hours away from her and my grandaddy as well, so our relationship is rather easy to maintain. We talk on the phone and visit often. Our favorite thing to do is shop and the craft store and make new things like wreaths or holiday crafts.
My grandaddy, Robert, plays an important part in my life, as he has been and still is my father figure. He has always been a part of my life and has made sure that I have had everything that I could ever need and often want. He isn't the kind of guy that likes to talk on the phone but we like to get together and chat about politics. He also likes to email back and forth with me. Grandaddy encourages me to reach higher, dream bigger. He is my motivator and I love him for that.
My best friend, Amber, is the last relationship that I am going to write about today. We have been friends for 14 years and have been through our ups and downs. She is my ultimate rant listener, no judgments ever. She is also my girly date go-to girl as we love manicures, pedicures, nice restaurants, and shopping; and the mother of my God daughter, Sophia. Keeping our relationship strong over the years has been hard as we have not lived in the same state for many years now. We try to visit each other whenever we are in the same home town for holidays and talk on the phone at least once a week. I think that the importance that each of us holds for the other, has kept our relationship going. We always set and keep our phone dates and never miss a chance to see each other. Our dedication to our relationship has really helped to keep it going. I also consider my relationship with Amber to be a partnership. Anything she needs, I'm there, and vice-versa. I would take care of her child as my own and I know that she would do the same for me when that day comes. I consider our relationship a partnership because we relate so much to each other, we're always on the same page.
The challenges that I have faced in maintaining relationships over the years seems to be location and the busyness of life. It is easy to get caught up in your own life and the day to day things that you are focused on, quickly forgetting to make time to call a family member or friend. This is something that I really had to learn how to balance when I moved away to college.
Another challenge that I, personally have faced with several people is compromise. As an only child, I wasn't very good at this at first. I had to learn, with help of my mother, that I have to compromise with other people, especially people that I care about, in order to maintain a good relationship.
I think that the relationships and partnerships that I have developed and maintained over the years will help me to be successful in the early childhood education field because they have all taught me something valuable. I've learned how to deal and compromise with people different from myself, how to support people, and how to easily relate myself to others. These are all traits that I feel are important when working with families.
Side note: I almost forgot to mention the relationship that I have with my fur-babies, Marley (right) and Millie (left). My pups do so much for me. They calm me down, cheer me up, make me laugh, motivate me to exercise, and most importantly, give unconditional love. I love them dearly and yes...I am THAT doggie obsessed mom ;)
My husband, Mikey as I call him, is the most important relationship that I have. He is my number one fan and biggest supporter. He is my partner in crime and the best friend that I have found. In order to maintain our relationship we have found communication and honesty to be the most important factors. I consider my relationship with my husband to also be a partnership because we must live together and make decisions together. In order to do this effectively, we have to be partners and agree on things.
My mother, Traci, is another very important relationship for me. She is always supportive of me but is also my voice of reason. She gives me advice when I need it and helps me to see farther down the road when I can't. Maintaining a relationship with my mother has not been a challenge for me at all, as I am lucky to only live 2 hours away from her. We talk on the phone often and we visit each other about once a month.
My grandmother, Joyce, is also an important relationship in my life. She helped raise me as a child and has never missed a game, band concert, etc. She listens to my rants, offers words of wisdom, and tells me outright when I am being ridiculous about something. She doesn't sugarcoat anything for me, she just tells me like it is and I love that about her. I live 2 hours away from her and my grandaddy as well, so our relationship is rather easy to maintain. We talk on the phone and visit often. Our favorite thing to do is shop and the craft store and make new things like wreaths or holiday crafts.
My grandaddy, Robert, plays an important part in my life, as he has been and still is my father figure. He has always been a part of my life and has made sure that I have had everything that I could ever need and often want. He isn't the kind of guy that likes to talk on the phone but we like to get together and chat about politics. He also likes to email back and forth with me. Grandaddy encourages me to reach higher, dream bigger. He is my motivator and I love him for that.
The challenges that I have faced in maintaining relationships over the years seems to be location and the busyness of life. It is easy to get caught up in your own life and the day to day things that you are focused on, quickly forgetting to make time to call a family member or friend. This is something that I really had to learn how to balance when I moved away to college.
Another challenge that I, personally have faced with several people is compromise. As an only child, I wasn't very good at this at first. I had to learn, with help of my mother, that I have to compromise with other people, especially people that I care about, in order to maintain a good relationship.
I think that the relationships and partnerships that I have developed and maintained over the years will help me to be successful in the early childhood education field because they have all taught me something valuable. I've learned how to deal and compromise with people different from myself, how to support people, and how to easily relate myself to others. These are all traits that I feel are important when working with families.
Side note: I almost forgot to mention the relationship that I have with my fur-babies, Marley (right) and Millie (left). My pups do so much for me. They calm me down, cheer me up, make me laugh, motivate me to exercise, and most importantly, give unconditional love. I love them dearly and yes...I am THAT doggie obsessed mom ;)
8.23.2013
The Amazing Story of Carly
When I think of children, many words come to mind. Inquisitive. Energetic. Adorable. Silly. Opinionated. Determined. Vulnerable.
When reading about Carly Fleischmann and her incredible journey to finding a voice despite severe autism, all of these words come to mind, with another word...amazing.
Carly's story is incredibly heartwarming and uplifting. It teaches understanding and patience, and show just how determined a child can be. I hope that you all will enjoy it as much as I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNZVV4Ciccg
While I believe that children learn through play, and find play incredibly important and beneficial to children, I also believe in the benefits of technology. Technology is such a valuable teaching tool and Carly's story is an amazing example of this.
When reading about Carly Fleischmann and her incredible journey to finding a voice despite severe autism, all of these words come to mind, with another word...amazing.
Carly's story is incredibly heartwarming and uplifting. It teaches understanding and patience, and show just how determined a child can be. I hope that you all will enjoy it as much as I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNZVV4Ciccg
While I believe that children learn through play, and find play incredibly important and beneficial to children, I also believe in the benefits of technology. Technology is such a valuable teaching tool and Carly's story is an amazing example of this.
8.10.2013
Assessing Children in the U.S. and China
As a former elementary teacher in North Carolina, I believe in assessing children. It is necessary for me, as a teacher, to know where my children stand. What level are they on? Are they understanding the new concept that I'm teaching? Assessing them allows me to group the children so that I can make the most of my time and help each and every child. I feel that children should be tested on whatever I am teaching. Math, science, vocabulary, reading; it is all important. Not only does it give me feedback to further develop my lesson plans to meet the needs of my students, but it also gives the parents feedback so that they can work with their children. And it gives the children feedback so that they know how they are doing as well, building self-esteem.
Now, with that being said, my version of assessment is definitely not the same as the testing brought to us by No Child Left Behind. One big test at the end of the year I do not feel is beneficial. It is stressful and honestly not a great measurement of children's knowledge as it is not what they are used to. The wording in those tests may not be what the children understand. Bubble sheet testing may be new to them and that alone can stress them out and cause them not to perform as well. Not to mention, the last month of school being only test prep, how is that fun for kids? The whole idea of it is just awful to me.
Obama has started a new initiative called Race to the Top. This calls for more, less intense testing. Instead of one giant test at the end of the year, there are smaller, less formal tests throughout the year. This, in my opinion, is more beneficial and is what teachers are doing anyways. Of course we test throughout the year, we have to know when to move on to new topics. This, to me, is what children in our public schools are already used to and will not stress them out as much. And unlike a test at the end of the year, it gives the children a chance to improve and build upon their skills. According to Gregory J. Cizek, a professor of educational measurement and evaluation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "Research has long shown that more frequent testing is beneficial to kids..."
Testing in the United States is very, very different from testing in China. Chinese children always score higher than American children in both science and math. Why is that? Do their strict testing rituals actually pay off?
Chinese children attend school from elementary age through age 15. After age 15, parents have to pay for their children to attend school. Children attend school from 7am to 4pm Monday through Saturday. They have very few national holidays in which school is closed and their summer vacation is only a month long. Many children also attend buxiban, also called cram school, in the evenings and on weekends. This is similar to small group or one-on-one tutoring in math and science, that also costs money.
The children that do get to attend high school no longer get to study all of the subjects that they once did, such as history, literature, art, and music. They are now attending school for 4 years with only one goal in mind, the gaokao. The gaokao is a 2 day National University Entrance Examination that determines what university the student will attend. This exam assesses math, science, English, and Chinese. Chinese children are tested over and over again, in preparation for this test.
At first it seems that all of this testing and schooling pays off for Chinese children. I mean, look at the statistics! But does it really? Do these children get to enjoy their childhood at all? Do they have low self-esteem if their grades are not perfect? Do ALL children benefit? I would say no. It seems that if you are not wealthy, you will not succeed. If your parents can not afford to pay for buxiban and high school, what do you do then? Are you automatically left behind just because you do not have money? How does that benefit these children?
References
Levy, Michael. (2011). What I Learned From China's Schools. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-levy/what-i-learned-from-china_b_872126.html
Mack, Lauren (n.d.). School in China: Introduction to School and Education in China. Retrieved from http://chineseculture.about.com/od/thechineselanguage/a/Introduction-To-Education-In-China.htm
Rosenthal, Elizabeth (2010). Testing, the Chinese Way. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/weekinreview/12rosenthal.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Now, with that being said, my version of assessment is definitely not the same as the testing brought to us by No Child Left Behind. One big test at the end of the year I do not feel is beneficial. It is stressful and honestly not a great measurement of children's knowledge as it is not what they are used to. The wording in those tests may not be what the children understand. Bubble sheet testing may be new to them and that alone can stress them out and cause them not to perform as well. Not to mention, the last month of school being only test prep, how is that fun for kids? The whole idea of it is just awful to me.
Obama has started a new initiative called Race to the Top. This calls for more, less intense testing. Instead of one giant test at the end of the year, there are smaller, less formal tests throughout the year. This, in my opinion, is more beneficial and is what teachers are doing anyways. Of course we test throughout the year, we have to know when to move on to new topics. This, to me, is what children in our public schools are already used to and will not stress them out as much. And unlike a test at the end of the year, it gives the children a chance to improve and build upon their skills. According to Gregory J. Cizek, a professor of educational measurement and evaluation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "Research has long shown that more frequent testing is beneficial to kids..."
Testing in the United States is very, very different from testing in China. Chinese children always score higher than American children in both science and math. Why is that? Do their strict testing rituals actually pay off?
Chinese children attend school from elementary age through age 15. After age 15, parents have to pay for their children to attend school. Children attend school from 7am to 4pm Monday through Saturday. They have very few national holidays in which school is closed and their summer vacation is only a month long. Many children also attend buxiban, also called cram school, in the evenings and on weekends. This is similar to small group or one-on-one tutoring in math and science, that also costs money.
The children that do get to attend high school no longer get to study all of the subjects that they once did, such as history, literature, art, and music. They are now attending school for 4 years with only one goal in mind, the gaokao. The gaokao is a 2 day National University Entrance Examination that determines what university the student will attend. This exam assesses math, science, English, and Chinese. Chinese children are tested over and over again, in preparation for this test.
At first it seems that all of this testing and schooling pays off for Chinese children. I mean, look at the statistics! But does it really? Do these children get to enjoy their childhood at all? Do they have low self-esteem if their grades are not perfect? Do ALL children benefit? I would say no. It seems that if you are not wealthy, you will not succeed. If your parents can not afford to pay for buxiban and high school, what do you do then? Are you automatically left behind just because you do not have money? How does that benefit these children?
References
Levy, Michael. (2011). What I Learned From China's Schools. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-levy/what-i-learned-from-china_b_872126.html
Mack, Lauren (n.d.). School in China: Introduction to School and Education in China. Retrieved from http://chineseculture.about.com/od/thechineselanguage/a/Introduction-To-Education-In-China.htm
Rosenthal, Elizabeth (2010). Testing, the Chinese Way. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/weekinreview/12rosenthal.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
7.24.2013
Stress and Children's Development
There are many stressors that can affect children's development in all areas. These stressors include war, poverty, hunger, abuse, disease, and many others. While I am fortunate enough to have had no experience with any of these, I am very aware of the reality of these issues and the damage they can do to a child.
A close friend of mine spent the first few years of her life living in poverty. Her parents moved to the US from the Bahamas hoping to find a better life. They already have one child and then, while living in a two bedroom apartment, have five more. They could not afford to take care of these children and were having a hard time keeping food on the table. They visited the local food bank often and while their home was very crowded, they made it work. A few years late, Habitat for Humanity built her family a house. They were incredibly grateful and still are today, as her father donates money regularly to the organization.This house and help with their bills allowed the father the opportunity to save a little bit of money that lead to him starting his own business. He is now able to support his family without any assistance and is doing very well. Living in poverty did not negatively affect my friend because she did not have to live in the situation for very long. She always had food and parents that did all that they could to improve the situation. While, thankfully, my friend was not affected, it is a sad reality that many are. Children here in the United States and all across the world live in poverty that also leads to hunger and unclean water. These factors can affect a child's physical development and in turn, slower cognitive development.
The country that I decided to research for this assignment is Greece. Greece is such a beautiful country and it is a place that I would love to visit. I am aware that Greece has been having a hard time with their economy lately, but I had no idea to what extent. The economy in Greece has fallen 20% in the last five years with an unemployment rate of 27%, the highest in all of Europe (Alderman, 2013). Due to the lack of work available, many families are having to ration food, leaving children and adults alike, going hungry. According to a recent report, 10% of all Greek elementary and middle school children are suffering from hunger. The schools in Greece do not offer reduced and free lunch programs like America does, so if a child does not have food from home or money for lunch, the child will go hungry. These statistics are incredibly saddening and leave my heart very heavy. The Greek Orthodox Church has started collecting food from the public to help those in need while individual schools are also coming together to collect food for families. It does not seem that the government is assisting much with this issue. Children that are left hungry will not only suffer from delayed physical development, but will also reduce their rate of learning, slowing cognitive development as well (Alderman, 2013).
References
Alderman, Liz. (2013). More Children in Greece are Going Hungry. The New York Times. [Online Journal]. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/world/europe/more-children-in-greece-start-to-go-hungry.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
A close friend of mine spent the first few years of her life living in poverty. Her parents moved to the US from the Bahamas hoping to find a better life. They already have one child and then, while living in a two bedroom apartment, have five more. They could not afford to take care of these children and were having a hard time keeping food on the table. They visited the local food bank often and while their home was very crowded, they made it work. A few years late, Habitat for Humanity built her family a house. They were incredibly grateful and still are today, as her father donates money regularly to the organization.This house and help with their bills allowed the father the opportunity to save a little bit of money that lead to him starting his own business. He is now able to support his family without any assistance and is doing very well. Living in poverty did not negatively affect my friend because she did not have to live in the situation for very long. She always had food and parents that did all that they could to improve the situation. While, thankfully, my friend was not affected, it is a sad reality that many are. Children here in the United States and all across the world live in poverty that also leads to hunger and unclean water. These factors can affect a child's physical development and in turn, slower cognitive development.
The country that I decided to research for this assignment is Greece. Greece is such a beautiful country and it is a place that I would love to visit. I am aware that Greece has been having a hard time with their economy lately, but I had no idea to what extent. The economy in Greece has fallen 20% in the last five years with an unemployment rate of 27%, the highest in all of Europe (Alderman, 2013). Due to the lack of work available, many families are having to ration food, leaving children and adults alike, going hungry. According to a recent report, 10% of all Greek elementary and middle school children are suffering from hunger. The schools in Greece do not offer reduced and free lunch programs like America does, so if a child does not have food from home or money for lunch, the child will go hungry. These statistics are incredibly saddening and leave my heart very heavy. The Greek Orthodox Church has started collecting food from the public to help those in need while individual schools are also coming together to collect food for families. It does not seem that the government is assisting much with this issue. Children that are left hungry will not only suffer from delayed physical development, but will also reduce their rate of learning, slowing cognitive development as well (Alderman, 2013).
References
Alderman, Liz. (2013). More Children in Greece are Going Hungry. The New York Times. [Online Journal]. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/world/europe/more-children-in-greece-start-to-go-hungry.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
7.13.2013
Malnutrition in Children
"One in every four children in the world is suffering from chronic
malnutrition that is affecting their ability to learn, according to a
report by a charity."
This is a hard quote for me because it is not something that I was aware of before. Obviously, I am aware that other parts of the world are not as developed as the United States, where I live, I just was not familiar with the alarming statistics and the extent of this problem.
Chronic malnutrition delays a child's growth developmentally, physically, and cognitively. Obviously we are aware of the physical effects of malnutrition on children which then relates to developmental delays. But the effects of malnutrition also relate directly with a child's ability to learn. Malnourished children are 19% less likely to be able to read at the age of 8 (based on a study of children in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam). This disadvantage in early childhood can be seen as an indicator of how well these children will succeed later in life.
While the number of children who die from malnutrition is on the decline, from 12 million in 1990 to 6.9 million in 2011, the problem is still very much evident. Becoming aware of these statistics makes me realize that I need to become more involved to help children around the world. I am an early childhood professional because I have a passion for young children. A passion to help them grow, learn, and succeed. This passion has led me to join advocacy groups in my area and will now lead me to become involved in organizations that will make people aware of this problem, and ultimately benefit children across the world.
Resource for statistics: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/28/18550564-one-quarter-of-worlds-children-struggling-to-learn-because-of-malnutrition-study?lite
This is a hard quote for me because it is not something that I was aware of before. Obviously, I am aware that other parts of the world are not as developed as the United States, where I live, I just was not familiar with the alarming statistics and the extent of this problem.
Chronic malnutrition delays a child's growth developmentally, physically, and cognitively. Obviously we are aware of the physical effects of malnutrition on children which then relates to developmental delays. But the effects of malnutrition also relate directly with a child's ability to learn. Malnourished children are 19% less likely to be able to read at the age of 8 (based on a study of children in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam). This disadvantage in early childhood can be seen as an indicator of how well these children will succeed later in life.
While the number of children who die from malnutrition is on the decline, from 12 million in 1990 to 6.9 million in 2011, the problem is still very much evident. Becoming aware of these statistics makes me realize that I need to become more involved to help children around the world. I am an early childhood professional because I have a passion for young children. A passion to help them grow, learn, and succeed. This passion has led me to join advocacy groups in my area and will now lead me to become involved in organizations that will make people aware of this problem, and ultimately benefit children across the world.
Resource for statistics: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/28/18550564-one-quarter-of-worlds-children-struggling-to-learn-because-of-malnutrition-study?lite
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